THE DOG WHO LOVED THE MOON

Age Range: 4 - 7

Pub Date: April 8th, 2008ISBN: 978-1-4169-1836-3Publisher: Atheneum

A fanciful story about a dog that’s lovesick for the moon, and a young girl’s wish to bring the two together. Every evening Pilar dances in her pink zapatillas and invites her puppy Paco to join her. But Paco—who plays fetch and cuddles by day—can only sigh and look longingly at the moon; and no amount of Pilar’s leaping and twirling can appease him come night. Dog-lovers and avid dancers will adore Serra’s illustrations, as an exuberant Pilar dances the cha-cha-chá with a despondent Paco. Reminiscent of the graphic stylizations of J.otto Seibold, and done in a 1950s color palette with pop geometry, Serra’s digitally rendered illustrations are rich with texture and detail. Despite its pat ending, García will have readers boogying to the beat of the conga, as they howl and sing to Babaluna, asking her to come down from the sky. (Picture book. 4-7)